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This was just one thread in an incredible, nail-biting episode that leaves viewers waiting to see if these unlikely heroes can, in fact, save the world. And if they do, will it really be a better place?

Nathan Petrelli meets with Linderman in the mobster’s future art lair. He discovers that Linderman has powers of his own – he can heal. Linderman says he wants all people with powers to join together to heal the world. They’d tried it once, but some with powers soon became corrupt and people stopped believing in the good they could do. The predicted explosion in New York would drive their fear into a frenzy and unite the people – under Nathan’s leadership in the White House – because “people need a catalyst for good, for change,” according to the all-powerful Linderman. He’s got a painting of Nathan in the Oval Office, so it’s got to be true. Right? Linderman’s speech was reminiscent of the X-Men, the mutants who are targeted by people gripped with fear of their powers. But his views that united people in fear instead of hope add a layer to this complicated character that make you wonder if he really does want good to come out of all those deaths.

According to the paintings, Peter Petrelli will explode the day after the election, which Linderman has fixed in favor of Nathan. But Peter and Sylar fight and Peter dies. Mohinder gets free from his bonds and knocks the all-powerful Sylar out – destroying the computer equipment and the all-important List at the same time. He takes Peter’s body to his mother’s home, where Claire has some heart-to-hearts with her cold grandmother. Angela Petrelli calls Nathan and they mourn Peter. Nathan keeps saying how his brother wasn’t supposed to die that way. Claire gets a few moments alone with Peter before she is to be shipped off to France to start a new life by Grandma Petrelli, who can also heal herself. Remember how Claire “died” once before? Well, she does something a bit similar. She pulls a piece of glass out of Peter’s head and he instantly comes to life.

Nathan is happy, but now the weight of what will happen in New York hits him and he must decide what to do. He tells Claire she needs to go to France and came back a week after the election. Interesting, since Peter told Nathan earlier that Claire could be his savior – the person who could keep him from exploding. Nathan’s thirst for power is going to be his downfall.

Jessica is called to a meeting with Linderman. He wants Micah. He says plans are coming unhinged ( hm…) and Micah’s special powers can help get them back on track. Jessica says no go. Later, we see Jessica hand Micah over with a smile to Linderman. Only it’s not Jessica. It’s evil Primatech shapeshifter Candice. Jessica comes home after Micah is gone.

The tables have turned for Claire’s father: he’s now in one of the cells near Parkman that he kept warm and cozy for the heroes. Having been knocked out, Parkman wakes up hearing Bennett talking inside his head. Bennett has a plan for escape that only Parkman can fulfill. Parkman rescues nuclear man Sprague and Bennett before Thompson can execute them. The men decide to go to New York to destroy the tracking system used by the bad guys. We discover that Bennett didn’t know Linderman was so involved until Parkman reveals what he heard in Thompson’s head. Linderman is in Las Vegas, though, and Bennett knows they have to stay on target. This sets it up for two explosive men in New York at the same time. Will it be Peter or Sprague who goes nuclear? Or will it be someone else? Or will it be an actual bomb? We just don’t know.

Sylar wakes up and discovers Peter and Mohinder are gone and the list destroyed. He is angry until he discovers a torn piece of paper with Isaac’s name on it. He goes to Isaac, who knows he is going to be killed by Sylar. He is ready to die after a life of drugs and killing the love of his life. He tells Sylar he’s already told people how to kill the killer. Sylar aborbs Isaac’s futuristic visions. (Doesn’t that mean he, too, will know how he can be killed?) It shows him painting a picture that looks suspiciously like Sylar in the White House instead of Petrelli, but it could be a different artist’s interpretation. (Although that would leave intriguing possibilities. Can you imagine Sylar as president?)

Mohinder gets back to his place and Sylar is gone. Mohinder is angry that Peter is dead and Sylar – his father’s murderer – is still on the loose. He calls Bennett, but instead gets Thompson. The men form an uneasy alliance to find and kill the serial killer.

Hiro and Ando are five years into the future at painter Isaac’s place. New York is still in ruins. He decides to find Isaac to find out what the heroes did wrong so they can stop the explosion. What he finds is a detailed outline of what happened up to and after the explosion – and his future self.

If Heroes were any better, it would hurt. Seriously. Even the few episodes that were slow after Christmas were good. The show continues to surprise, intrigue and push the boundaries of typical primetime television.

Only four more chapters left for the season. Next week: The future in five years.

www.nbc.com/heroes/

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